Mechanism for delivering envelops from folding-boxes of envelop-machines.



N0. EQUNBG. Patented Dec. 3|, l90l.

J. A. SHERMAN.

HECHMMSII FOR DELIVERING ENVELOPS FROM FOLDING BOXES 0F ENVELOP MACHINES.

(Application filed Sept. 6, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESSES Patented ne. 3|, neon.

J. A. SHERMAN. MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING ENVELOPS FROM-FOLD|NG BOXES 0F ENVELOP MACHINES.

(Application filed sept. 8, 1901,)

(No Model.)

Fig. 2.

m: NORRIS PETERS ca. PHO'IO-LITNCL. wAsumsmu. n. c.

No. 690,036 Patented Dec. 3|, I901.

. J. A. SHERMAN. MECHANSM FOR DELlVERlNG ENVELGPS FRQM FOLDING BOXES 0F ENVELUP MACHINES.

(Application filed Sept. 0, 1901. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

I 1 1 a 5 i ri 1 51 35 wi -mg F 1 25 f $g Z I J'M A v -4,- P w y/fi! /%iz/i;ii;zi;zzz;fi%;wziiz I%/ k\\\\\\\\\\\\\ JOHN A. SHERMAN, OF VVORGESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANlSl/I FOR DELIVERING ENVELOPS FROM FOLDING-BOXES 0F ENVELOP-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,036, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed September 6, 1901. Serial No. 74,498. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. SHERMAN, of l/Vorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism for Delivering Envelops from the Folding-Boxes of Envelop-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to that class of folding-boxes in which the bottom of the box has a downward movement. Heretofore in such boxes the envelop has been delivered through the opening in which the bottom of the box moved; but in no case where the folders are of ordinary construction has the envelop been delivered between the folder and the table.

In my present invention the bottom of the box projects above the level of the table and is reciprocated vertically only sufficiently to allow the envelop to be discharged between the folder and the table. This makes it possible to use folders of ordinary construction, supporting them sufficiently high above the table to cause their center of oscillation to be on a line with the bed in its uppermost position and to allow a passage under one of the folders, so that the folded envelop may be discharged thereunder. This also reduces the movement of the bed to a minimum and makes it practicable to use two of its folders to carry the envelop down with the bed, so that the envelop is delivered vertically from between the beads as well as off the bed.

My invention will be understood by reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the folding mechanism of an envelop-machine embodying my invention, the folding-bed being in its uppermost position and the delivery mechanism being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a cross-section, enlarged, showing the foldingbox and two positions of the end folders; and Fig. 3 is a section corresponding to that of Fig. 1, but ona larger scale, and showing the folding-bed at its discharging-level and the envelop in process of discharge from the top of the bed.

Only so much of the machine isshown as will enable the parts referred to to be operated.

A is the table, which is provided with a rectangular opening a, in which slides vertically the folding-bed B. This folding-bed consists of a block having a horizontal face of proper size, its body being sufliciently large to fill the said rectangular opening a, making a sliding fit therewith, so that it may be moved up and down therein with ease and yet afford a firm base for the folding of the envelop. The folding bed is supported upon two rocker-cams C, mounted on a rock-shaft 0, supported in bearings a, projecting downward from the table. The rock-shaft 0 carries at one end the rocker-arm 0, connected by a connecting-rod c with a cam-lever 0 mounted on a stud c and carrying a camroll c is a cam mounted on the cam-shaft D, adapted to give to the rocker-cams 0 their proper movement, as described below. A spring 0 holds the roll 0 against the cam c.

b b are two springs attached at their upper ends by screws 1) to the bed 13- and at their lower ends to pins 11 projecting from hangers b on the under side of the table A, the purpose of these springs being to hold the bed firmly against the rocker-cam O. I prefer to set into the under side of the bed B steel strips b to take the wear of the rockercams O.

The folding operation is performed by four folders D E F G in the ordinary manner. The axes of these folders are supported upon a level with the bed B when the bed is in its uppermost position, and each folder is operated by the usual system of cams and levers now so well known in machines of this class that it is unnecessary to show or describe them fully. I have found it desirable, 110wever, to give to the end-foldersE G a further downward movement beyond that which is ordinarily given to them in order to insure the envelop which has been folded from sticking between what are known as the beads or edges. These beads, lettered, respectively, d e fg form a wall around the edge of the bed 5 when the envelop is deposited therein by the plunger H, and as the fit of the plungerin the pocket formed by these walls is very close sometimes there is a tendency on the part of the envelop after it has been folded to stick therein in those cases where the mode of delivery is not positive or of such a character as to destroy temporarily one or more of the walls of this pocket. A means of overcoming this, however, is shown in Fig. 2, where the folders E and G are shown in two positions an upright position and also in dotted lines in a position below the horizontal. These folders E G are each of them provided with a projecting part c g, to which is connected a connecting-rod e g, connected to a cam-lever 2 mounted on the stud c and operated by a cam e the two cams being identical in structure and time to operate the two folders together. As is stated above, the motions of these folders are the motions ordinarily given to folders to perform the folding operation. Thereafter as thebed B sinks owing to its release by the rocker-arms C and the consequent action upon it of the springs 12 the folders E G follow the bed down, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and thus force the-envelop out from between the beads. Then they ascend into their horizontal position in timeto be out of theway of the vertical movement of the plunger H. The third part instrumental in discharging the envelop, as shown in the drawings, consists of a pusher J, mounted on acarriage 3', adapted to slide in waysj, mounted on the table A. This pusher J slides over the surface of the bed, as shown in Fig. 3, and drives the. envelopK out, as therein shown, under the folder F, so that it may fall into the drier, as indicated at. L, or should the table be. continued without any aperture, such as is indicated at Z, through which the envelop is falling down, the envelop. will be driven out, so that it will rest upon the table beyond thefolding mechanism, to be received and carried off in any suitablemanner. The operation of the pusher J is caused by the cam on which reststhe roll j on the end of the cam-lever j, mounted on the stud 3' thiscam-lever being connected by aconnecting-rodj with an arm j", mounted on a sleeve j*, which carries an arm f, connected by a connecting-rod j with the carriage j.

The timing of these various parts-is as follows: The. bed being in its uppermost position, as indicated in Fig- 1, and the folders all projecting upward,the plunger H moves down, carrying with it a blank, which is deposited upon the folding-bed B between the beads, forming the-pocket of the folding-box. The plunger then moves up out of the way and the two end-folders are moved over to perform the ordinary folding operation, and after them the. back-flap folder and the sealfiap folder. The back-flapv folder and the sealflap folder now open and simultaneously the rocker-arms 0 release the bed B, soas to allow the springs Z) to pull it down to the dis.-

.charging-level, and as the bed descends the end-flap folders E G follow it down, pushing the-envelop down with it, and immediately move upward in to their original vertical position. As soon as they are out of the way the pusher J moves forward, discharging the envelop from the top of the bed, and immediately returns to its position, at which instant the bed begins its rise, reaching its position in the folding-box in time to receive the new blank.

The simplicity of this construction is apparent, and it is one which can be easily applied to almost any of the common forms of envelop-machines by reason of its simplicity.

1 The bed is given but a slight movement-say one-half inch-just enough to enable the sealflap to clear the under surface of the seal-flap holder as it is being pushed out under it. This construction also makes it unnecessary to give to the seal-flap folder any peculiar shape, as has heretofore been done where pushers are used, and the slight movement of the bed makes it possible to use pushers moving in sight above the table instead of below it. By this means they may be the more steadily and easily supported, and, as has been stated before, this construction is such that the envelop may be delivered either above or below the table, according to thecon= struction of the table and the locationof the drier, to which, as a rule, the envelop is de= livered.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In an envelop-machine a table, four oscillating folders mounted thereon and above the level of said table whereby a passage is formed under two opposing folders and between them and the upper surface of the table, a vertically-reciprocatin-g folding-bed adapted to be moved between said folders during the folding operation and close the passage under said folders. and tobe withdrawn to the level of said table, and a push:- ing mechanism located upon said table and adapted to pass through saidpassage and eject an envelop therethrough and along the plane of the upper surface of said table, all

i as set forth.

2. The folding mechanism of an envelop.- machine comprising afolding-bed and four oscillating folders, means for separating said folding-bed fromsaid folders, and discharging mechanism todischarge the envelopv from said folding-bed, two of said folders being given an additional movement below their horizontal folding position, whereby they will push the envelop down from between the folders upon said folding-bed, as described.

3. In an envelop-machine a table,a-fold,- ing-box located above said table and comprising four. oscillating folders, two opposing folders being located above the surface of said table to providea, passage between them and said. upper surface of the table, and a vertically moving folding bed, means. for positively carrying the folded envelop-down.- ward from between said folders. to the level of the table, and means for discharging said envelop laterally'above said table and through JOHN A. SHERMAN.

Witnesses: GEORGE O. G. COALE, M. E. FLAHERTY. 

